Navigating Chaos: Triumphs and Trials of a Public Defender (replay)

Whitney Lallas is a family law attorney in Maine. She shares her journey into family law, influenced by her interest in psychology and math. The emotional and financial aspects of her work figure prominently into what she likes about her work, as well as what's challenging. She provides insights into handling prenuptial agreements, child-related matters, and dealing with hidden assets. Whitney also explains her eat-what-you-kill compensation structure and emphasizes the significance of maintaining work-life balance. Whitney is a 2019 graduate of the University of Maine School of Law.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Access LawHub today!Colorado LawLearn more about Colorado Law

Rachel Frank is a senior associate at Quinn Emanuel who focuses on appellate litigation. She discusses the journey from summer associate to working on cases before the Supreme Court. Rachel explains what appellate practice actually involves, from preparing partners for oral arguments through intensive moot courts to crafting persuasive appellate briefs. She discusses how she uses AI as a thinking partner, the value of her federal appellate clerkship, and how her work has evolved over time. Rachel reflects on some of her firm's cultural quirks and why they matter to her. She also candidly discusses managing work-life balance. Rachel is a graduate of Yale Law School.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Colorado LawLearn more about Colorado LawAccess LawHub today!

Matt Skinner is a public defender with passion. Criminal defense is high-stakes, sometimes chaotic work that can be extremely difficult, but Matt navigates the courts, clients, and his career with genuine sincerity and excitement. As a lawyer for those who are accused of felonies but cannot afford a lawyer, his love for underdogs fuels his advocacy. It was a profound experience in high school, however, that set him on this path. On a high school trip to the local jail, he ran into two of his friends--behind bars. Matt is a 2018 graduate of Seton Hall Law School.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Rutgers LawLearn more about Vermont LawAccess LawHub today!Colorado LawLearn more about Colorado LawLearn more about Rutgers Law

For the government, sanctions and export controls are foreign policy tools. For businesses, they are legal minefields. Audi Syarief is a senior associate who helps clients navigate this high-stakes world of regulatory puzzles and enforcement actions. In this episode, Audi explains how sanctions work, the outsized role of ambiguity in his practice, and his approach to managing risk across diverse client situations. He discusses the collaborative nature of working with deal teams, solving complex sanctions puzzles that can make or break deals, and how lawyers help keep clients compliant while enforcement agencies watch closely. From panicked calls about accidental violations to negotiating licenses with government regulators, Audi works at the intersection of law and foreign policy. Audi is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Rutgers LawLearn more about Vermont LawAccess LawHub today!Learn more about Rutgers LawColorado LawLearn more about Colorado Law

Jeremy Evans managed to outlast hundreds who started law school hoping to do sports and entertainment law. He talks about the struggle to start his own firm and why he thinks he was among the last standing. Jeremy is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson School of Law. This is a replay of episode #47 that originally aired on June 20, 2020.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Vermont LawAccess LawHub today!Learn more about Rutgers LawLearn more about Rutgers Law

Through her social security disability practice, Asha Sharma represents clients who are often struggling with poverty, homelessness, and complex medical conditions. In this episode, she discusses the realities of building a practice around contingency fees from federal back pay, the challenge of working with vulnerable clients who lack proper medical documentation, and the extensive medical knowledge required to effectively advocate for people with conditions ranging from chronic pain to severe mental illness. Asha reflects on preparing for administrative hearings before federal judges, the impact of fraud cases that have tightened evidentiary standards, and why she finds meaning in work that helps society's most marginalized individuals navigate a complex federal system. Asha Sharma is a graduate of University of Minnesota Law School. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Rutgers LawLearn more about Vermont LawLearn more about Rutgers LawAccess LawHub today!

Joe Stephens operates at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and traditional legal practice. As both a trial consultant and public defender, he helps lawyers harness AI to transform their litigation strategies and case preparation. Joe discusses how he guides other attorneys through AI integration, from analyzing mountains of depositions to crafting more effective motions. In his own public defender work, Joe has implemented AI tools to efficiently process vast amounts of digital discovery and pinpoint crucial moments in hours of police camera footage, allowing him to provide more thorough representation to indigent clients with limited resources. Joe Stephens is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Vermont LawLearn more about Rutgers LawAccess LawHub today!Learn more about Rutgers Law

Sudha Setty entered legal academia on a path less traveled—without a clerkship or teaching fellowship. While working as a litigation associate at an elite New York City firm, she prepared for the academic job market and charted her course into teaching and scholarship. In this episode, Sudha reflects on how she built a scholarly agenda, developed an engaging classroom presence, and relied on mentorship to guide pivotal career decisions.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Access LawHub today!Learn more about Vermont LawLearn more about Rutgers LawLearn more about Rutgers Law

Margeaux Thomas is the definition of lawyer meets entrepreneur. She specializes in business partnership disputes, landlord-tenant conflicts, and contract law. In this episode, Margeaux shares her journey from law school to working at a large firm, the challenges she faced navigating firm dynamics, and the personal experiences that led her to start her own practice. She dives into the realities of running a boutique law firm, building a client base from the ground up, and designing a business for efficiency. Margeaux also reflects on building a work-life balance and what it means to define success on your own terms. Margeaux is a graduate of the Catholic University, Columbus School of Law. This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about Vermont LawSeattle LawLearn more about Seattle University School of LawBU LawLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Rutgers LawWilliam & Mary LawLearn more about William & Mary Law SchoolLearn more about Baylor LawAccess LawHub today!

Before becoming a judge, Alex Manning served in the military, worked undercover as a cop, and defended people in complex criminal cases. She was also a key spokesperson advocating against the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. In this episode, Judge Manning talks about what drew her from law enforcement to the law, the challenges of presiding over a courtroom, and the mental and emotional toll of making high-stakes decisions as a day job. She talks about how her investigative experience informs her judge-instincts and gets real about the mental health challenges judges face. Judge Manning is a graduate of Vermont Law and Graduate School.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Access LawHub today!BU LawLearn more about Boston University School of LawSeattle LawLearn more about Seattle University School of LawLearn more about Seton HallWilliam & Mary LawLearn more about William & Mary Law SchoolLearn more about Baylor LawLearn more about Blueprint